Great holiday offerings at businesses

Dec. 26, 2012

Written by

Roy Wilhelm

About this series

Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965, as a reporter. Now retired, he is writing about the history of some Sandusky County businesses.

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Last week, this column reached back 50 years and took a look at the approach of Christmas and how merchants were faced with the challenges of Blue Laws, which prohibited Sunday sales, and severe winter storms, which kept people at home.

Klos Shoe Store at 114 N. Front had the “perfect” gift for a man’s wife, proclaiming in its ad, “She is wishing for Daniel Green Comfy Slippers.” Doesn’t seem like the dream gift to me, but the Klos advertisement explains: “No gift could please her more than a gift of dainty slippers by Daniel Green.” Who am I to argue? Especially since they only cost $4.95 — and that’s for a full pair.

Joseph’s, the anchor of the downtown area, was brightly decorated for the season and promoted what apparently was an expanded toy inventory. Battery-operated King Zor the Dinosaur was available to provide “fun for the family” for just $9.88 and Erector sets started at $2.88.

Someone looking for something really special for the holidays, however, might head out to Cussins and Fearns. There you could get a TraVler deluxe 23-inch console television with a “beautiful, slim-lined styled mahogany cabinet” for just $179.77.

It was a time when the whole community seemed to have something going for the holidays.

Company Christmas parties filled the calendars at places like the Fremont Country Club, the Hotel Fremont, the American Legion and other spots around town.

The Fremont H. J. Heinz Division marked its 25th year at its Christmas party and the Howard Zink Co. honored employees who had reached their 25th year during its Christmas celebration.

The News-Messenger, in addition to celebrating with employees, “entertained 150 carriers and drivers at the annual Newsboys’ Christmas Party ... at the American Legion Home.” Tom Leite, longtime circulation director, presented special awards to Mike Magsig and Tom Ziebold, the top carriers for the year.

It wasn’t just businesses celebrating. Beta Sigma Phi’s Mistletoe Hop drew a crowd to the Legion, and The News-Messenger had this to say about another gathering: “The Fourth annual Christmas Fiesta for Spanish-speaking peoples of the area drew an estimated 400 people to St. Joseph’s cafeteria where fun and laughter reigned supreme.”

If you didn’t have a party to attend, the Fremont Drive-in Theater offered you a chance to enjoy an outdoor movie despite the weather, advertising high-powered in-car heaters and urging people to “Join our Polar Bear Club.”